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Monday, August 30, 2010

Toney not the only fighter who got his lights turned out

Like many I was eagerly anticipating UFC 118 as the headline matches had great storylines but unfortunately unlike most MMA fights these left something to be desired. Much like a $49.95 PPV boxing match that doesn’t deliver, this was in the same class. Perhaps James “Lightsout” Toney did bring an element of boxing to the ring after all, because he didn’t bring any other skills en route to a microwave fight with Randy Couture who clearly demonstrated why Boxers should stay in the ring and out of the octagon. Although RC was pushing fiddy’ in age he was still the favorite as many thought if he was able to get to Toney’s legs that it would be short work. JT talked way too much Smac even for a boxer, as he had to know he would be a fish out of water if the bout made it to the mat, and within seconds of the first round that’s exactly where they were with JT trying to fend off getting choked out. This is what the MMA fighters have been screaming all along, that some styles should just not mix. You’re taking a discipline that trains its athletes strike, choke, and force your opponent into submission as opposed to being trained to feint, jab, counter, and hold if you get out of position. In MMA if you get caught out of position, you will find yourself tapping out real soon as Toney found out. Don’t get me wrong if the roles were reversed the outcome would have been the opposite because Couture would not have been able to defend the power punches of Toney without the ability to shoot his legs and take him to the ground, but that’s the very point, you’re trying to take a street fighter out into the street where almost anything goes. Perhaps this will send a message to other boxers that are thinking of taking this up as a hobby after their real careers are over. In case you got confused by the sideshow that was the preliminary bout, you missed the passing of the torch as Frankie Edgar dismantled BJ Penn for five consecutive rounds to win a unanimous decision for the second consecutive bout between the two. And don’t feel bad because ESPN and most sports shows did as well as they all began the MMA segment with undercard bout, which was completely missing the point of a World Title Fight. To be honest it’s a shame to see possibly the greatest middleweight this sport has seen burn out so quickly but Penn was never in this fight or the first and it’s time to stop talking about what was and start talking about how Edgar may be the future. Should boxers, football players, or other athlets try to get into MMA? Let us know here and in the MMA chat rooms.